Briefly in English


The Savonian Survivors Registered Association - Savolaiset Selviytyjät ry (aka Selkkarit)

Index of This Page

1. Official Introduction


2. Our Goals


3. Our Open Hours are


4. Our Weekly Programs


5. Our Memberships


6. Survivors of Their Own Lives project


7. How to Contact us


8. Cookie Policies


This article is checked an updated: May 10th 2025 ;
previous updates: November 23rd 2024 ; October 13th 2024

1. Official Introduction

Officially Savolaiset Selviytyjät ry was founded in 1993. We are local, independent and open association for
people who are suffering from psychiatric problems as well from for those who are dealing from substance problems and rehabilitation.

The association is a member of the Finnish Central Association of Mental Health>>, which is the largest European association working with the mental health issues.

Our meeting place locates at the middle of the town’s center, near the ex- and now demolished Kauppalinna shopping center's empty lot, next to Sport Gear Service shop and at opposite of the Siivous-Info shop. And what is the best of our location - you can see the bus station right through our windows.

2. Our Goals Are to:

  • promote the health, well-being and stability of our members and guests/visitors
  • offer moral an peer support
  • assist our members and guest in discovering their own strengths and resources in the rehabilitation process
  • offer place with a low barrier to entry, where our guests and members can participate in our daily routines as well as have a positive and fun experiences

We are well-known for our experienced expertise and peer support. No one is left behind, we have dedicated ourselves to offering help and support!

We also offer rehabilitative experience where you can test your skills in:

  • handcrafting
  • kitchen work (cooking and baking)
  • café work (cashier and customer service)
  • as well as with some light woodworking

We offer an opportunity for work trial experience and wage-support work as well.

3. Our Open Hours are

Starting from January 1st, 2025:

  • Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 am to 1 pm
  • Tuesdays from 8 am to 4 pm (from 1 pm to 4 pm kept open by the project)
  • Fridays from 9.30 to 2 pm (kept open by the project)

There may be changes in the open-hours. We may also organize activities on Saturdays, about which we will inform separately. Our meeting place is closed during Bank and public holidays.

4. Weekly Programs

Our weekly programs offer physical and mental stimulus. We have normal programs that are kept once or twice a week, and some are kept in every 2nd week or once a month. Weekly programs may change and vary depending of the reason.

  • The Morning Info, where is told every important issues and info every Tuesdays -> at this moment this group is on hold/break!
  • The Spiritual Group, where you can read and discuss about Bible or your own personal spiritual issues. Every Tuesdays. Every Tuesdays at noon (12 O'clock).
  • The coloring group1, where you can let out your inner Picasso. Every 2nd Wednesdays at noon (12 O'clock).
  • Bingo, where you may win some great prices every Wednesdays, staring at 9 am.
  • The Coloring group 2, every Thursdays -> at this moment this group is on hold/break!
  • The Music Group, where we listen and talk about music, every Thursdays at 11.30 am
  • “Good-will Coffee”, is a group where we talk about different issues. Once a month at noon.
  • The Members Group, is meant for our members. In the group we make plans, actions and decisions for and about groups/actions/offers for our members. Once a month - at this moment this group is on hold/break.
  • And some other nice actions and events may also occur during the year

Our meeting place is open to the public and as such, you don’t have to participate in any of the activities to join us.

All are welcome to come inside, have a cup of coffee, to have a conversation, to read the daily newspaper, to play board games, to read books – or just simply to come in to warm-up from the Finnish winter.

5. Our Memberships

To become our member, you need to be 18-years of age. You do not need to have any personal mental or health issues. The membership is personal, so all family members must become our members
one at the time.

To become our member, you must personally visit in our office during our open hours, and fill-in the membership application. The association’s cabinet members approves or reject the application.

You may be either normal personal member or supporting member. As a normal personal member you are justified to get all our benefits: dinner (from Mon to Thu) that costs a little. Cheap sewing services, and lots more.

If you only become supporting member, you are not justified for any member benefits. You only support our association.

Normal personal member’s fee in 2025 is 25 euros, and supporting member’s fee is 45 euros.

6. Survivors of Their Own lives -Project

The Savolaiset Selviytyjät ry's meeting place has launched the "Oman Arjen Selviytyjät ESR+" -project at the beginning of 2025.

The target group of the project consist of working-age unemployed individuals in the Savonlinna area who are rehabilitation clients for substance abuse and mental health, who are at risk of social exclusion, experiencing loneliness, and being outside of working life, and who need supporting in strengthening their everyday skills as well as building their individual employment path.

The project's duration is 2-years, from January 1st 2025 to December 31st 2026.

Project's official website is: https://www.selkkarit.fi/oman-arjen-selviytyjät, and you can also find us on Facebook>> too.

You can come to learn more and sign-up for activities by visiting the Savolaiset Selviytyjät meeting place at Pilkkakoskenkatu 1, from Mon-Thu 8 am to 1 pm (see section 3. for more information)

Project Coordinator: Kati Torniainen

Email: oma.arki.kati(at)gmail.com

Phone: +350 (0)44 901 2443

Project Worker: Tanja Laitinen

Email: oma.arki.tanja(at)gmail.com

Phone: +358 (0)44 901 2445

7. How To Contact Us

Our official address is: Pilkkakoskenkatu 1, FI-57100 Savonlinna SUOMI – FINLAND EUROPE

Phone number: +358 (0)44 353 3501 *

Email: selkkarit (at) gmail.com **


* Our phone services are only open during the open hours. Otherwise they are closed. Spam, unnecessary and beggary calls and emails are prohibited – thank you!


** DO NOT send us emails that include confidential information or details/documents that are meant to keep in safe/secret. Or material that are copyrighted/you don’t have any permission to handle/send them.

8. Cookie Policies

The Cookie Policy – an information about cookies used on services of provider. The main cookie policy can be readfrom provider’s own page at https://www.123kotisivu.fi/pages/privacy-policy.html (in Finnish).

There may be another cookie policy offeredand served by Cookiebot, that is based to European Union’s The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPG) and the ePrivacy Directive (ePR). The service may collect and share some information with 3rd parties – also useful for CCPA compliance (Californian Consumer Private Act). Read moreat https://www.cookiebot.com/en/.

We welcome you to come in for a visit, participate in our day to day. You may fall in love!!


We have high ramp but low threshold!

! OUR MEETING PLACE AND LOCAL AREAS ARE DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE !